Nigeria head coach Eric Chelle has acknowledged the unique threat posed by tournament hosts Morocco but remains confident his side will rise to the occasion and push for victory in their Africa Cup of Nations semifinal clash.
Speaking during his pre-match press conference, Chelle underlined the increasing demands on his team as the tournament reaches its decisive stages.
“Algeria was a major challenge for us,” Chelle said. “Now Morocco is the biggest challenge. But for this team, every match is the biggest test because expectations are extremely high.”
The Super Eagles coach stressed that his players are both mentally and tactically prepared, insisting that the team’s approach remains consistent regardless of the opposition.
“We are ready for this match and for every match we play in this competition. We approach each game as if it is the last one,” he said.
“The players will give everything, just as they have done so far.”
However, Chelle admitted that recovery and fitness would play a key role before final tactical decisions are made, given the tight match schedule.
“First, I need to assess my players physically because we played just three days ago. Recovery is important,” he explained.
“Once we rest and I evaluate the condition of the team, then we can properly talk about the game plan.”
Samuel Ahmadu is a distinguished multimedia journalist and women's football expert with over 15 years of experience in the industry. On the back of domestic engagement since 2008, he began his international career journey at Goal.com in February 2014, where he served as an African women's football correspondent for nearly eight years. During his tenure at Goal.com, Samuel covered major events such as three Women's Africa Cup of Nations (2016, 2018, 2022) and the 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup in Canada plus 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia. His work at Goal.com earned him widespread acclaim, particularly for his in-depth profiles of African football stars, notably Asisat Oshoala, whose rise he documented from her early years to her breakthrough at the FIFA U20 Women's World Cup in 2014. Prior to his role at Goal.com, Samuel freelanced for various print and broadcast media outlets in Nigeria, including Graphics Newspaper, Radio Nigeria, Grace FM, and Savid Newspaper. His extensive experience and expertise led to his appointment to the Nigeria Football Federation's Standing Committee on Women's Football Development from 2016 to 2018. Since February 2018, Samuel has been the Social Media Manager for Nigeria's women's national teams.In 2019, Samuel joined the Confederation of African Football (CAF) as a women's football content contributor and was promoted to Women's Football Editor in 2021. His contributions to women's football continued as he worked as a Media Consultant for Content Creation and Editorials at the 2022 CAF Women's Champions League. Currently, Samuel also serves as the spokesman for the Nigeria Women Football League, further solidifying his influence and dedication to the growth of women's football in Africa.
